The violent crime rate you described above being 500% higher is very subject to location in the US.. In my state--violent crime is extremely low to nonexistant.. where as you get to a place like Washington DC, where at the moment, its next to immpossible to own a gun much less a handgun,and yes crime there is out of control.. the criminals know you can't protect yourself and therefore the women, elderly, etc. are much more prone to attack. Conversly, look at what happened to crime in some of Florida's counties within 2 years after they passed the "concealed carry law" were many had crime rates fall by half within that time frame.

In all the info I have researched, the highest crime areas have the most restictive gun laws..wow, who would have thunked it..

Ripp